WHY THIS MATTERS
Grand Canyon is one of the most special places we have in Arizona and one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The beauty of the landscape, its geology, and the power of the Colorado River through its heart inspire us. Grand Canyon's biological and cultural diversity are truly significant. That is why we have worked for decades to protect it and why we and most Americans support keeping it protected.
While the heart of Grand Canyon is protected as a national park, outside those borders, various activities threaten this special place. Not the least among them is uranium mining, which can and has polluted the lands and waters of Grand Canyon.
In 2012, with strong support from hundreds of thousands of Americans, then Secretary of the Interior Salazar issued a 20-year ban on new uranium claims on more than a million acres of public lands adjacent to the Grand Canyon. Now the Trump administration wants to roll back this 20-year ban to allow uranium mining near the Grand Canyon. We must stop that.
Under a recent recommendation, the Department of Interior would revise or possibly rescind the mining ban that was put in place to protect tribal resources and drinking water, as well as safeguard critical wildlife corridors and habitat threatened by uranium contamination.
Please speak up now by sending a letter to the Secretary of the Department of Interior, telling him that we must keep this important protection in place to protect Grand Canyon, the Kaibab National Forest, and our other public lands and waters in the region.
Photo credit: El Palen (CC BY 2.0)
